Ascending the Tower of Blood

When I entered the tower on that fateful night, I honestly didn’t think I’d make it out alive. My mission was one of extreme danger as I walked into a hell on earth and faced an enemy beyond my comprehension. I could never have anticipated what I’d discover on the top floor of that god-forsaken tower block.
The decision I’ve made is not an honourable one – I’ll be the first to admit that. But I had my reasons… and, before you judge me, I ask that you hear my story.
It was a chilling experience even walking through the rundown and decrepit housing estate on route to the cursed tower. It was almost as if the evil and decay which occupied the building was spreading and slowly contaminating the surrounding community.
There were few residents still living on the estate, with most of the homes boarded up and abandoned. The threat which infested the streets was well known, and all who could had long since fled. The buildings themselves were slowly crumbling, and the streets were strewn with rubbish and debris.
Even the streetlights were failing, since the council workers refused to perform maintenance here. No right-thinking person would walk these streets, let alone approach the notorious tower of blood. But yet, this was where I was headed.
I’ll admit to feeling apprehension and fear as I marched down the darkened alleyways, shivering in the cold night’s air and jumping at every sound and shadow as I feared something was following me. Was I paranoid? Maybe. But I wasn’t prepared to take any chances.
I pushed forward, navigating the decrepit urban labyrinth whilst seeing no-one and nothing other than the occasional scurrying rodent. But my courage almost failed me once I stood below the tower and looked up, observing the cursed structure in close detail for the first time.
Much of the tower was shrouded in darkness, with windows boarded up and flats long since vacated. But a few lights were visible across the dozen levels – a chilling reminder that people still lived in this urban hell.
But what chilled me to my bones was the ominous red light visible on the top floor – a hellish illumination emanating from the penthouse. This was where he lived – my target.
I couldn’t see the monster from street level, but I knew he was up there, and I had a good idea what evil went on within those four walls. The fear I experienced in that moment was almost primal. A voice inside my head was screaming at me to run…to leave this place and never come back.
But I fought back against the fear, strengthening myself and remembering the promise I’d made. I needed to go through with this, no matter what the outcome.
I straightened my back and secured by rucksack, feeling some comfort from the weight as I remembered what I was carrying. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward and wrapped my knuckle against the heavy steel door.
I noted how secure the entrance was and wondered whether this was to keep people out or keep them in. I believed I knew the answer. There was no response to my first knock, and my anxiety increased as I feared my contact wouldn’t show. If the door remained locked, my mission would be over before it began.
I knocked again, harder this time. There was a tense wait before I heard the clinking of locks from the far side before the heavy door slowly swung open.
A pair of sullen and suspicious eyes stared out at me, and the young woman addressed me.
“You’re Tyler?” she asked.
“Yeah.” I replied, “You’re Zara, I take it?”
The woman was slight and had short dark hair. She wore baggy jeans and a sweater a few sizes too big for her. I noticed her pale skin and the dark shadows under her eyes. Zara looked exhausted and drained, which was understandable given the hell she was forced to live in.
At first glance Zara was not much to look at – appearing like a strong gust of wind could blow her over. But that was only my initial impression. When I looked deeper, I saw the fire in her hazel brown eyes, evidence of her defiance and will to fight.
The bravery Zara showed that night…I’ll never forget it.
“Quick. Come inside.” she ordered, whilst cautiously glancing out at the street.
I did as told, stepping into the lobby whilst Zara slammed the steel door shut behind me. I’ll admit to experiencing another pang of anxiety as I watched Zara securing the locks, cutting off my exit to the outside world.
The first thing I noticed about the lobby was how bright and modern it looked compared to the decrepit and crumbling exterior. With new tiles and freshly painted walls, I was surprised at how welcoming the lobby appeared. I didn’t comment but Zara must have picked up on my surprise.
“Looks good, right?” she quipped, “That’s how the spider lures in the flies.”
I turned to look upon my female companion, nothing the grim smile on her lips.
“The rest of the building doesn’t look like this?” I asked.
“Not at all.” she replied, “Every other floor is dark, damp and disgusting. They keep the lobby clean to maintain a façade of normality. This is as far as any outsiders will come – deliveries, repairmen etc. No-one dares to ascend the tower – not the council, social services, or even the police.”
“Yeah, I know it.” I answered solemnly.
Zara gave me a suspicious look, and I feared I’d said too much. Therefore, I quickly changed the subject, nodding towards the shut steel door of the elevator.
“Are we taking the lift?” I enquired.
“No.” Zara answered firmly, “The elevator is under their control and is only used during the midnight call. We can’t operate the lift without giving ourselves away.”
I nodded my head, feeling frustrated but not surprised.
“So, the stairs it is then?” I asked.
“Yeah. But it’s not that easy. There are two ways up and down the tower – the main staircase and the fire escape. Trouble is, the brothers have put up barricades as a security measure. That means we have to cross a half dozen floors to make our way up to the penthouse.”
“Okay.” I answered, “Is that going to be a problem?”
Zara sighed and lowered her head before replying. “It shouldn’t be. But we need to be careful, and you need to follow my lead. There aren’t many residents still left in the tower, but I know them all. Some are on our side, others serve the enemy, and the rest are either indifferent or too far gone to care. If we’re careful and quiet, we can reach the penthouse undetected by midnight.”
This was one element of the plan I couldn’t understand.
“Why midnight? Why can’t we do this during the daytime?”
Zara shook her head before responding.
“It wouldn’t work. He locks himself inside a safe room during the day. Solid steel doors. No way in. Midnight is when he summons the residents to give their nightly tribute. That’s when he’s vulnerable…That’s when we get to him.”
I understood the logic but also saw the risks. The ‘he’ Zara referred to was Max, aka The Tyrant. He was the one I’d come here to kill. The plan seemed solid, but clearly it was fraught with danger. But I couldn’t show any fear now, not in front of Zara.
“Okay then, shall we get on?” I asked.
Zara raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t you want your money first?” she enquired.
I mumbled whilst trying to recover.
“You have the cash?”
Zara reached into her pocket and withdrew a stuffed brown envelope which she handed to me with some reluctance. I took hold of said envelope, opening it to view the collection of crisp fifty pound notes inside. Next, I feigned doing a rough count of the money, like this was the whole reason I was here.
“Ten grand up front, the balance upon completion of the job. That’s what we agreed, right?”
I met Zara’s gaze and nodded my head in confirmation.
“Yes, that’s right. We’re good to go.”
“One more thing.” Zara added, as she delayed our ascent just a little longer. “I would like to see what you’re carrying.”
I stood confused for a moment before realising she wanted to view the contents of my rucksack. I was naturally defensive.
“Why?” I asked in annoyance.
Zara shrugged her shoulders.
“We’re paying you handsomely for one night’s work. I want to make sure you’ve come prepared before we go any further.”
I wasn’t happy with Zara’s demand but had no good reason to refuse her.
“Fine.” I answered reluctantly, before pulling the bag from my shoulder and opening the zipper.
Zara inspected my flashlight, stiletto dagger, and Webley revolver.
“It looks like it belongs in a museum.” she said, referring to the gun.
“It’s an old firearm but still reliable.” I replied defensively.
Zara looked at me like I was an idiot.
“You know bullets won’t kill him, don’t you?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve taken this into consideration.” I answered cryptically.
“Okay.” she replied, “And what else have you got?”
I carefully removed my box of tricks from the bag, opening it to reveal the array of weapons and oddities inside.
“Nice. That’s more like it.” Zara said enthusiastically as I zipped up my bag, “But tell me Tyler, how many of his kind have you killed?”
I felt another pang of anxiety upon hearing the question. I could have lied of course. I hadn’t been truthful with Zara. Not at all. I’d sold myself as an underworld hitman for hire. She thought I was only in this for the money and couldn’t know the job was personal for me. But this felt like a lie too many, and so I decided to be honest for once.
“I’ve never killed one.” I muttered nervously.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” she cried, “You told me you could take him out!”
“And I can!” I shouted back, “I’m a professional and have done my research. I’ll get the job done lady. Trust me.”
I don’t think Zara believed me. Surely she could see through my cover story. I saw her shake her head and look back towards the front door. For a moment I feared she’d call the whole thing off. But thankfully she decided against it.
“It’s too late.” she said with a deep sigh, “This might be our last chance to take the bastard out. We must move ahead.”
I experienced a wave of relief as I secured my bag and followed Zara through the lobby and towards the stairwell. And I crossed yet another Rubicon as we left this area of relative safety and entered the true tower of blood.
The staircase was dimly lit and worn, but that wasn’t what concerned me. What I picked up on was a combination of unsettling senses – not only the darkness, but also a foul odour and icy cold chill emanating from the floors above. And looking down at the steps, I noted a stain of dark crimson on the carpet.
“The trail of blood.” Zara explained, “It leads all the way to the top floor.”
I wanted to ask a follow up question or two. But, before I could open my mouth, the tense silence was broken by a blood curdling scream from upstairs. I felt a chill run through me and looked to Zara with concern. But the woman simply shrugged her shoulders before saying – “Just another night in the tower. Now, shall we?”
Zara led and I cautiously followed, walking with her into the darkness. We were able to bypass the first floor but had to navigate the second level, because the staircase was blocked by a makeshift barricade constructed of old furniture and assorted debris.
The second floor was shrouded in darkness since most of the corridor lights were out. I used my battery-powered torch to illuminate our path. But I froze in terror when I saw a face in the light.
I screamed before I could stop myself and reached for my bag of weapons. But Zara stopped me, placing a firm hand on my arm before shouting in my ear.
“Don’t! That’s just Mildred!”
I kept the torch focussed on the pale face in the darkness. What I saw was a middle-aged woman clad in a soiled dressing gown – her hair matted and her pupils dilated. There was something very disturbing about Mildred as she stood in the corridor looking straight at me.
At first I couldn’t believe she was human. But, once I observed her in closer detail, I confirmed she was indeed a woman. But she was in a wretched physical state, and her wide eyes were filled with madness. As the tense stand-off continued, Mildred opened her crusty lips to reveal rotting yellow teeth. And then she started to laugh – a twisted, manic cackle which echoed down the corridor and brought a fresh chill down my spine.
Zara attempted to calm the crazed woman, stepping forward with her hands held up defensively as she spoke softly.
“It’s okay Mildred. There’s no need to be scared. We’re just passing through.”
But Mildred couldn’t be reassured. Her laughter turned into a scream of terror as she turned on her heels and fled down the corridor, soon disappearing back into the shadows. Zara called after her neighbour, but it was no good, because Mildred was gone.
I looked to my guide, her face illuminated by the torchlight. What I saw in her tired eyes was a mixture of sadness and fury.
“Is she going to be a problem for us?” I asked, referring to Mildred.
“No.” Zara replied with a firm shake of her head, “Mildred’s harmless. She’s been here since the beginning – when Max first came to the tower and turned our home into a living hell.”
Zara turned to meet my gaze, her eyes now filled with a furious defiance.
“Years of torture and abuse – it’s left Mildred a wreck…a shell…barely recognisable. That’s what the fucker has done to her…what he’ll do to all of us, if he’s allowed to. That’s why he needs to be stopped. Do you understand Tyler? He needs to die tonight!”
I nodded my head in acknowledgement. I understood more than Zara realised, but now wasn’t the time to reveal this.
“Any more surprises on this level?” I asked nervously.
“No.” Zara replied, “Mildred’s the only one left on this floor. Just her and the rats now. We need to move on. The fire escape will take us up to the fourth floor. I have friends there – people I’d like you to meet.”
I nodded my head once again, not sure what Zara could mean by ‘friends’, but realising I needed to follow her lead in this dangerous and unpredictable environment.
The second stairwell was even grimmer than the first, as we had to negotiate the rubbish strewn steps in the dark. I jumped when I heard the sound of scurrying creatures under my feet, which Zara assured me were ‘only rats’. More concerning still were the ominous noises carried down the stairwell – pained sobbing and hellish screams…further warning of the horrors to come.
But the next floor we entered seemed like an oasis in comparison. Yes, the corridors were still dark and depressing, and the majority of the flats were abandoned and closed off. But the lights were slightly more welcoming, and the flat Zara brought me to was in fact a home. 4D was the number on the door, and Zara knocked with confidence.
We waited for a moment before the door opened and a grey haired, spectacle wearing man answered, a smile appearing on his crusty lips as he welcomed his guests.
“Zara!” he exclaimed enthusiastically, “Thank God you’re here. I was getting worried.”
I was surprised when my hard-nosed guide embraced her neighbour in a hug.
“Sorry I’m late.” she said, before making the necessary introductions. “Professor, this is Tyler. He’s the…contractor we’ve hired to solve our problem. Tyler, meet Professor Hannigan.”
“Please, call me Jim.” the man replied whilst offering his hand in friendship, “We appreciate you coming out Tyler. You’ve no idea how much we need your services. Please, come inside so we can talk.”
Zara entered first and I soon followed, grateful to have reached a temporary sanctuary on our ascent. Hannigan’s flat was quaint but dated. There was a musky smell inside, the décor looked like a throwback to the 70s, and the rooms were full of clutter.
In the interior corridor we walked past a bookcase stacked to the brim with obscure academic works. I noted some of the titles on the covers – ‘A History of the Occult’, ‘Cryptid Hunting in the Modern Era’, ‘Investigations of the Paranormal’, and so on. I was starting to wonder what kind of professor Hannigan really was.
We entered the flat’s small living room and I was surprised to see others – a woman and a boy – sitting inside. Hannigan didn’t seem like a family man to me, and so I’d assumed he lived alone.
The woman sat on the sofa, a blank expression on her drawn face. Physically she looked similar to Zara – pale and thin. Except there was something wrong…something missing in her. Whilst Zara still had a fight left in her, this dead-eyed, unresponsive woman seemed to have been broken by her grim situation.
The boy, who I assumed was her son, could have been eleven or twelve. It was difficult to tell for sure, because the child appeared malnourished, and presumably this had stunted his growth. The boy was sitting cross-legged on the carpet, watching a football match on an ancient television set with a poor picture and the sound off.
He didn’t bear any resemblance to Hannigan, and so I guessed the professor wasn’t the boy’s father.
“Hey Maria.” she said, whilst leaning down to kiss the woman on the cheek.
Maria didn’t respond or even seem to notice the small act of affection, as she continued to stare blankly at the wall.
“Hi Billy.” Zara said as she playfully ruffled the boy’s hair, “What’s the score?”
“Nil all.” the kid answered, without diverting his attention from the screen.
“Cup of tea?” Hannigan asked amicably.
“Sounds good Jim.” Zara answered with a smile.
We followed the professor into the flat’s small kitchen, where he put on the electric kettle.
“Well Tyler,” Hannigan said as he looked me up and down, “What do you think of our little tower block?”
“It has its charms.” I replied sarcastically, prompting a dry laugh from Hannigan.
“We can’t stay for long,” Zara warned as Hannigan handed out the mugs of tea, “We’re already behind schedule, and we must reach the penthouse before midnight.”
“Yes.” Hannigan replied with a firm nod, “You’re right of course, but I wanted the chance to speak with Tyler before the fireworks start. Now then young man, do you know what you’ve gotten yourself into?”
I was about to answer, but Zara interrupted me.
“He’s not killed one of them before.” she said.
I felt embarrassed and inadequate in that moment, but Hannigan surprised me by shrugging his shoulders.
“It doesn’t surprise me. Based on my research, the last hunter of these beasts died during the 19th century. There are few alive in the modern era who have encountered such a creature. Our unfortunate situation is quite unique…”
He sighed deeply and took a gulp of hot tea before continuing.
“Honestly, this plan is a long shot…a Hail Mary as the Americans would say. But you see Maria, Mildred…what we’ve been reduced to after years of torture. We must take action now, while there is still a slim hope of success.”
I already knew the difficult task ahead of me, and so Hannigan’s words of warning were no great revelation. But one thing still puzzled me.
“Why don’t you people just leave?” I asked, “You could pack up and walk out one morning, and this nightmare would be over.”
Zara scoffed in contempt, like my question was ridiculous. Hannigan laughed, but he did provide an answer of sorts.
“You know, I was writing a paper when I first came to this place. I thought I’d be studying a case of collective psychosis. I never imagined the urban legend could be true. But I entered this tower of my own free will, and I’ve been trapped here ever since.
Still, despite all the horror we’ve had to endure, we do have a community here. I guess that’s part of the reason we stay. Zara and I couldn’t leave in good conscience whilst leaving our neighbours behind. But its more than that. At first, I theorised the residents were suffering from a variation of Stockholm Syndrome. Now I know the truth.
The tyrant has a psychological – perhaps supernatural – hold over us. We’re connected to him and cannot escape his vile grip. The only way to break the link is to kill him. That’s why we need you, Tyler. Please don’t let us down.”
I saw the passion in the old professor’s eyes and couldn’t hold his gaze for long. I did wonder whether Hannigan knew the truth about me…knew that this was personal for me and I wasn’t in it for the money. There was no time for further questions however, as Zara took charge.
“We need to go.” she said firmly.
I nodded my head and set down my mug.
“Good luck.” Hannigan said as we made for the door, “I’ll see you both up there.”
We returned to the main stairwell to avoid the barricades. The path was clear, but my feeling of grim foreboding only increased as we ascended. I heard the occasional mumbled voice or scream, and always quiet, desperate sobbing.
I didn’t know how many people still lived in this hellish tower. Most of the flats were long vacated, but undoubtedly some were still occupied on the floors we bypassed. It saddened and angered me to think of these tortured souls – abandoned by an uncaring society and left to serve as the food source for a bloodthirsty monster.
But I wasn’t separated from this evil. Someone I cared about had fallen afoul of this trap. This is what drove me on the ascent. Mine was a mission of revenge.
We soon reached the next floor we were forced to cross. Zara warned me to be careful as we negotiated the darkened corridor by torchlight. I wish she’d been more specific.
We were half way across the floor when I heard a low growl from the shadows behind me. I turned around on instinct, using my torch to illuminate the threat. All I saw was teeth and fury as the beast charged towards me. I had no time to draw a weapon or run, as the barking hound leapt on top of me, using his strength to knock me down to the filthy floor.
I cried out and raised my arm to protect myself with the heavy weight of the hound on my chest. But the dog bit deep into my arm, causing me to scream in agony. I couldn’t fight off the beast and feared I was done for. But then I heard a high-pitched whistle, closely followed by an authoritative call from my companion.
“No Cerberus! Come here boy!”
To my immense surprise and relief, the dog obeyed Zara’s order, releasing my arm and obediently running to Zara’s side. I ignored the pain and jumped up, picking up my torch and using the light to illuminate the scene. What I saw was a huge rottweiler with my blood still dripping from his maw. Except now the mutt was docile and obedient, sitting at Zara’s command as she fed him a treat from her pocket.
“Are you hurt?” Zara asked me.
I looked down at my bloodied forearm.
“He bit me pretty bad, but I think I’ll live.”
Zara nodded her head.
“I’m sorry Tyler. I thought Cerberus was locked in, but he must have escaped. The brothers bought him as a guard dog, but they lost interest and left him down here. I’ve been looking after the mutt ever since.”
I watched in bewilderment as Zara gently scratched the dog under his chin.
“Not all of Max’s victims are human, as you can see.” Zara said solemnly.
Next, she shone her torch on my mangled arm.
“That looks nasty,” she said with concern, “let’s head to the next floor and I’ll get you bandaged up.”
Cerberus and I exchanged hostile glares as we walked by, but the hound let me pass and we were able to proceed. I smelt the stench of dog faeces as we reached the end of the corridor and did feel some sympathy for Cerberus, realising the squalor the dog had to live in. But the shit was nothing compared to the ominous stench of blood and death, which only got worse as we climbed yet another set of stairs.
Zara explained that the next floor was where she lived.
“Are you going to invite me in for a coffee?” I asked, half in jest.
“Not a chance.” Zara answered with a laugh, “My place isn’t fit for visitors. But I’ll bring you to the Joneses. They have a first aid kit and can get you fixed up. I need to speak to them anyway.”
Thus far the residents I’d encountered inside this damned tower were disturbed or broken, so I wondered what the Joneses would be like. I don’t think I could have predicted what I found. The Jones’s flat was numbered 8A. The front door was well maintained and looked like it’d been recently painted. There was a decorative knocker on display and the door mat read – ‘Welcome’.
It almost felt surreal as Zara knocked, and a moment passed before an elderly woman with long white hair, kind eyes, and a warming smile opened the door.
“Oh… hello Zara,” the woman said pleasantly, “You’re out late. How can we help?”
“Evening Cecilia. This is my friend Tyler. I’m afraid he’s had a bit of an accident.”
I raised my arm to show her the bite wound.
“Oh dear, that looks nasty.” said Cecilia with a genuine concern in her voice.
“We were hoping to use your first aid kit?” Zara said.
“Oh, of course.” Cecilia replied, “Please, come inside. Henry will get the kit from the kitchen…Henry!”
She called out to her husband whilst walking down the interior corridor, allowing Zara and I to follow her inside. The Jones’s flat was similar to Hannigan’s in that it was a home, but the personal touches were more evident. I’d have to say that the interior of the couple’s flat was immaculate, and I couldn’t see a speak of dust or dirt.
The walls and bookcases were adorned with photographs of family members, and the décor was inviting and homely.
“Please go into the living room.” Cecilia shouted, whilst she was helping her husband in the kitchen.
We did so, entering a cosy room with dated but well-maintained furnishings. Zara and I sat on the sofa and waited. For her this must have been a familiar routine, but I found the whole situation bizarre to say the least, because this comfortable little flat seemed like an oasis of normality in the otherwise decaying and dangerous tower block.
Cecilia soon entered the room whilst carrying a glass of water, while her husband Henry closely followed with the green first aid bag. Henry was a tall and thin man, bald and spectacled but with a kind smile which matched that of his wife.
“Oh goodness,” Henry exclaimed once he saw my bite wound, “Let’s get that seen to young man.”
What followed was a team effort as Zara and the Joneses cleaned, dressed, and bandaged my wound – a process that took several minutes as the elderly couple engaged in polite conversation. The Joneses were the type of people you would want as your grandparents, and for that brief time I felt safe despite the seriousness of our circumstances. But I noted how Zara was uneasy, constantly looking at her watch as it crept ever closer to midnight.
Once the bandage was on and secure, Ceclia extended her hospitality.
“Now then, how would you two like a cup of tea, and maybe some sandwiches?”
“No thank you.” Zara replied firmly, “We’re on a tight schedule and need to get on. But I have to talk to you both about tonight.”
Cecilia seemed visibly upset at the mere mention of the evening’s events, and she quickly left the living room without uttering a word. Meanwhile Henry shook his head whilst wagging his bony finger.
“Now Zara, you know that talk upsets my missus.”
“I know Henry, but this is serious. I explained to you what’s at stake tonight…What needs to happen. You and your wife must be prepared.”
Henry shook his head vigorously.
“No, no. This will not do Zara! We don’t get involved in these things. You know this. My wife and I simply want to enjoy our retirement in peace.”
Zara was clearly becoming exasperated.
“But this is happening, whether you like it or not.” she exclaimed.
Henry took a deep breath before replying.
“Tonight is just like any other night as far as we’re concerned. That’s all I have to say on the matter.”
Zara’s head dropped. Clearly she was upset, but she seemed to accept that she couldn’t change the old man’s mind.
“Okay then Henry. Take care of Cecilia, and yourself too. We’ll be on our way.”
Henry forced a smile, turning to me and saying – “It was a pleasure to meet you, Tyler. I hope your arm heals up well.”
I nodded my head and thanked the man, and a moment later I was following Cecilia back out into the corridor.
“What’s the matter with those two?” I asked, once we were out of the flat and the door was slammed shut.
Zara shook her head, glancing down the corridor as she replied.
“The Joneses are in deep denial. Have been for years. They’ve created their own little bubble in that flat and ignore the horrors outside their door. Sure, they give Max what he wants…his tribute. But they disassociate from the act and pretend it’s not happening.”
She paused briefly, and I could hear the emotion in her voice.
“In many ways, Henry and Cecilia are the saddest, most lost people in the whole tower. But there’s nothing we can do for them now.”
She looked at her watch once again.
“We need to move quickly. Just one more floor to cross before we reach the top. But we must be very careful.”
One would have expected the decay and rot to get worse as we approached the summit of the tower block. But this wasn’t the case.
The next floor was the last before we reached the penthouse, and I was shocked by the contrast – noting the well-lit corridor, freshly painted walls, and new carpets. But perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised by the improvement in conditions.
“This floor is where the Lee brothers live.” Zara whispered as we exited the stairwell, “Danny and Tommy. Nasty shits the both of them. Years ago, they made a deal with Max and agreed to serve the tyrant in exchange for preferential treatment. The brothers are Max’s enforcers. They keep us in line during the daylight hours and make sure all the residents give their tributes at midnight. That’s the routine, and the bastards make sure it runs like clockwork.”
“Well then, I guess we’ll have to deal with the brothers.” I said, whilst reaching into my bag of weapons.
“No.” Zara said firmly as she placed her hand on my uninjured arm, “That’s not the plan. Yes, the brothers will pay for their crimes, but we need to get to Max first. After that, the Lees will be leaderless and weak. We have to sneak through without drawing their attention, otherwise they’ll raise the alarm.”
I wasn’t sure I agreed with Zara’s plan of action, but she knew the tower and its people far better than I did, so I felt I needed to trust her judgement. We were so close to crossing the penultimate floor safely and without drawing attention. It was only bad luck that Zara’s plan failed.
Because, as we quietly progressed down the corridor, the door to one of the flats swung open, and a foul-faced man piled out. I later learnt the man was Danny Lee, but at the time he was simply a threat in our way.
Danny was a slob in a stained vest – plump and well fed, in sharp contract to the malnourished captives in the flats below. His chin was covered with untidy stubble, and his eyes were red and bloodshot, although I guessed this was due to the half empty whiskey bottle in his right hand.
Danny staggered out into the corridor in a drunken haze. He was blocking our path to the far stairwell, and Zara and I just froze – not sure what to do next.
Danny took a moment to figure out what was happening. He looked at us with surprise and confusion before it clicked in his head. His eyes narrowed and his lip curled as he focussed his fury on Zara.
“You treacherous bitch!” Danny snarled, before he charged forward, his huge hands reaching for my companion’s throat.
He knocked Zara down to the ground and throttled her with utter fury. I darted forward, grabbing the thug and using all my strength to drag him off.
We wrestled on the floor for a moment as I tried to subdue him, but Danny broke free and yelled for help.
“Tommy! We’re in trouble! Get the fucking shooter!”
This didn’t sound good. I looked to Zara who was slowly recovering from the attempted strangulation. She mouthed two words to me – “Stop him.”
I turned to see Danny running back towards the open door of the flat. I reached into my bag and grabbed the first weapon to hand – the dagger. I didn’t think, only acting on a murderous instinct. And I hit Danny hard, stabbing him repeatedly in the back.
The man’s blood spilled all over the new carpet. His body collapsed heavily to the floor, and he exhaled a terrible death rattle before shifting off the mortal coil. I looked down at the body in near disbelief. I’d sold myself as a hitman, but in fact I’d never killed anyone – not until now.
I was frozen in shock for a second, but Zara brought me back to reality as she recovered from the attack and jumped to her feet, shouting – “Tyler! We’ve got to run!”
I followed her down the corridor, and just in time. Because a moment later, Tommy charged out of the flat with a sawn-off shotgun in hand. I glanced back as we ran, seeing the shock and grief in Tommy’s eyes when he saw his brother’s bloody corpse. This kept him occupied for a moment, but soon his grief turned to rage as he raised his gun and aimed.
“Watch out!” I screamed, whilst simultaneously tackling Zara to the ground.
A shot rang out, the buckshot flying just above our heads. Tommy cursed as Zara and I scrambled for the door to the stairwell. We made it by the skin of our teeth as another shot struck the doorframe. Still scrambling, I reached into my bag and desperately searched for my revolver.
But suddenly a loud, sharp siren blasted out, almost drowning out all other sounds. I reckoned this was the building’s fire alarm but didn’t think it was being used for its original purpose.
“What the hell?” I screamed at Zara, struggling to be heard over the din.
“We’re out of time!” Zara shouted back, “That’s the signal for the ritual. We need to get upstairs now. It’s our last chance!”
We darted up the final stairwell, the siren blaring in our ears. When we reached the top floor, I noticed the lift was now operational, stopping on multiple floors on its way up.
“Tommy’s collecting the residents for their nightly tribute.” Zara shouted as an explanation, “The master’s needs must be catered to. We have time…but not much.”
We ran so quickly down the final corridor that I hardly had time to take in the details, let along consider the danger we were running into. Although I couldn’t help but note the dark stains on the carpet – the end of the ominous trail of blood
We reached a steel security door, similar to the one at the front of the building. There was no name or number on the door, but it didn’t take a genius to work out who lived here. I felt a jolt of adrenaline in that moment, hardly believing that my time had finally come.
All those years of planning for revenge and now I was here. But I also experienced fear in that moment…terror at facing the evil which dwelt within the penthouse, and also apprehension…because I was afraid I might not be up to the task.
Zara might have shared my anxieties in that moment, but she didn’t hesitate before entering through the already open door and facing the horrors inside.
The penthouse interior passed me by in a violent blur, at least the first time I experienced it. I recall the ominous dim red light, the hideous décor consisting of Bosch-like artwork, furnishings crafted from human skin, and shutters on the windows to keep out the daylight.
But worst of all was the stench – the foul odour of creeping death and vile rot. All this horror around me sent my head spinning. But I followed Zara as she navigated the hellish apartment, and soon we arrived at the source of all the evil and corruption I’d witnessed thus far.
I don’t know what I expected to find in that final room. I’d never seen Max in the flesh before, although I’d spent so many years of my life thinking about the monster. I suppose I’d built up an image in my head – one of pure evil. Perhaps the centuries-old, blood-sucking demon in human form was a disappointment to my eyes, but his appearance was horrifying none the less.
Max was sitting upon a twisted throne of cold metal. His dark hair was slicked back, and he wore a black tailored suit, except his shirt was covered by a bizarre plastic bib. There was a reason he wore the bib however, and that was to prevent the splatters of blood from staining his suit.
Because Max was feeding, his fangs embedded in the wrist of a slender, red-haired woman who sat on his lap – a dead and drained look in her eyes as the monster greedily feasted on her blood.
I stood awestruck and frozen in horror at the sight, hardly believing what I was witnessing. I’d heard the stories of course, but I don’t think I truly believed it until that moment. Because Max the Tyrant was a vampire, centuries old and sustained by the blood of his victims.
The details were sketchy, but it seemed Max had arrived in this country year earlier and had picked this tower block as his new hunting ground. Most of the residents were killed outright in Max’s killing spree, but the vampire was smart enough to keep a few alive so they could serve as his food source for years to come.
So, this was the dark secret at the heart of the tower of blood, and now the monster was staring me in the face. Because Max was done with his victim, allowing her to crawl away into the corner, weak and drained but still alive and conscious.
And now the monster was glaring at Zara and me – his black, shark-like eyes sizing us up, whilst the still fresh blood dripped from his long fangs and twisted lips. He used a white handkerchief to clean the blood from his chin and shot us a wicked smile.
I was so transfixed with the monster that I barely noticed when the alarm stopped blaring. I wondered what that meant but didn’t have time to ask.
“An hors d’oeuvre before the main course.” Max said slyly.
His voice was deep, chilling, and almost inhuman.
“You are Tyler, I assume?” he asked.
I felt sick to my stomach, looking to Zara and seeing only shock in her eyes. Max laughed cruelly upon witnessing our reactions.
“Honestly Zara, did you really think I didn’t know what you and Hannigan had planned? Nothing goes on in my tower without my knowledge.”
Zara looked beaten and totally devastated by the revelation. I knew it was up to me now. This was the moment I’d been waiting for. I reached into my bag of weapons but doubted I could do much. I’d heard stories of Max’s superhuman speed and strength and didn’t fancy my chances.
But the vampire didn’t make any effort to attack. In fact, he seemed quite relaxed as he stared right through me with his predatory eyes.
“And yes Tyler, I know who you are and why you’re really here.”
My jaw dropped in disbelief. How could he possibly know? Could this monster read minds? I didn’t have time to ask however, as a procession of souls walked in through the door behind us.
I turned to watch the march of the damned, as the long-suffering residents arrived to make their nightly blood tribute to Max…summoned by the vampire like rats hypnotised by the pied piper. Some I recognised from my ascent. Mildred – her eyes wide and filled with sorrow and madness. Mr and Mrs Jones – both smiling inanely as if they were attending Sunday dinner. Maria and Billy – the son leading his dead-eyed mother by the hand. And Professor Hannigan – appearing puzzled by the situation, as he must have realised the plan had failed.
There were others too – those I didn’t recognise, since we’d bypassed them on the way up. And, at the end of the line was Tommy Lee – his fat, red face filled with rage once he saw me.
“You murdering bastard!” Tommy cried, as he simultaneously started to load fresh shells into his shotgun.
He advanced with gun in hand and I tensed up, fearing the worst. But rescue came from the most unexpected source.
“Put your weapon down Tommy.” Max commanded, his booming voice filling the room.
Tommy looked visibly hurt by the order.
“But he killed my brother!” he exclaimed angrily.
“Stand down Thomas!” Max roared, his demonic force bringing a chill to everyone in the room.
Tommy didn’t need to be told a third time, and he lowered his gun before retreating into the shadows.
“I yearn for my subjects’ blood,” Max proclaimed, “But I’m prepared to delay my nightly feast…if only to reveal the truth to my would-be assassin.”
The vampire was staring right at me again. I was still afraid but also intrigued to know where this was going.
“You sought me out for revenge Tyler, but there is no need. The woman you love has been here all along.”
He turned his head to face a shut door leading to a back room.
“Come out my precious, there is someone here to see you.”
My legs were weak as I watched the red door slowly open, and my heart almost stopped when I saw the vision which walked out from the darkness…the body underneath a dress of crimson red, the hair, the eyes, the lips…it couldn’t be her, could it? But it was. There standing before me was Valerie, the love of my life.
Now we get to the truth of it all – my true motivation. Valerie was my lover so many years ago. We were engaged to be married…had our whole lives ahead of us. But then one night she disappeared without a trace.
I’d gone to the police to report her as missing, but their investigation hit a dead end. It was like they didn’t want to discover the truth. And so I’d conducted my own investigation, spending years of my life and my entire fortune in the process.
That’s how I’d discovered the whispered tales of the cursed tower and the monster who dwelt there. Valerie was last seen in the vicinity of the tower, and I was sure Max had taken her. I’d long since accepted Valerie’s death at the hands of the beast. That’s why I’d formulated this plan for revenge and why I offered my services to Zara as a hitman for hire.
But my planning was unravelled now, and all my assumptions were blown out of the water. I was frozen in that moment – staring helplessly at my beloved, unable to speak or react to her miraculous presence.
“Hey stranger, long time no see.” Valerie said with a smile.
That was the moment I realised. My Valerie wasn’t the same. I saw something in her eyes…or rather I didn’t see it. There was something missing – a spark of beauty and innocence, now extinguished. This might have been proof enough of Valerie’s transformation, but the confirmation came with her twisted smile, which revealed a pair of sharp fangs.
The shock and despair I experienced was enough to break my silence.
“My God Valerie,” I said weakly, “What has this monster done to you?”
Valerie laughed as she locked eyes with a grinning Max.
“What has Max done to me? He’s set me free, that’s what. He’s given me confidence, strength, and eternal life.”
She looked to me next, drawing me in with her beauty as a rush of emotions hit me.
“You can have it too Tyler. Come join us and you’ll live like a god!”
I felt sick, my stomach in knots and head spinning. It was too much to take in and once again I was speechless. I didn’t have an answer in that moment, but events moved quickly and spiralled out of my control.
“Zara!” screamed Hannigan as he stepped forward, “Now’s the time!”
The professor did his best, trying to wrestle the shotgun from Tommy’s hands. But the thug was too strong for him. I watched in horror as Tommy threw Hannigan to the floor before aiming and firing – blowing the professor’s head clean off.
Next, young Billy broke from the line and struggled with the gun-wielding thug. I feared the boy would be next to die since Tommy soon overpowered him. But seeing her son in danger broke Maria from her trauma-induced trance, as she pulled a kitchen knife from under her blouse and dove at Tommy, screaming with a maternal fury as she stabbed him repeatedly, until the thug fired his gun harmlessly into the ceiling before falling.
The room descended into pandemonium in that moment, as some fled in a panic whilst others hid in the shadows. But Zara used this opportunity to grab the backpack from my shoulder. She worked quickly, opening my improvised hunter’s kit and withdrawing a sharp wooden stake.
Next, she charged at Max with a murderous rage in her eyes. I had to admire the woman’s bravery, but her assault was doomed to failure. Max hardly exerted any effort as he dodged the attack before grabbing Zara by the throat and snapping her neck with a single flick of his wrist.
My guide’s limp body fell to the blood-stained carpet, and then the vampire turned his attention to me.
“You cannot join us!” Max exclaimed, “You are weak!”
He darted forward but was stopped in his tracks. Not by me, but by Valerie. She grabbed Max’s arm and used her superhuman strength to hold him back.
“No!” Valerie screamed as she risked it all to save me.
“How dare you defy me!” Max screamed.
I knew I had to act, and fast. Grabbing hold of my bag I reached for my revolver, pulling back the hammer and aiming to fire.
Meanwhile Max struck Valerie hard, knocking her to the ground. Then he turned his anger back towards me.
The vampire laughed when he saw the gun in my hand. He was so sure the weapon couldn’t hurt him. But Max didn’t know about the rounds loaded into the chamber…bullets forged from pure silver. He charged and I pulled the trigger, firing twice in quick succession.
Both bullets hit Max square in the chest, stopping him in his tracks. For a moment I feared the old trick hadn’t worked, but then the silver coursed through Max’s veins, and he screamed in agony as his ancient body burned. The vampire was weakened, but I knew this was only a temporary state of affairs. The silver would not kill him, and I needed to finish the job.
I looked to Zara’s body, seeing the discarded stake by her side. Darting forward, I grabbed hold of the weapon and charged towards Max. The hated vampire was too weak to defend himself. I saw the shock and fear in his dark eyes during that last moment, as his centuries long existence came to an abrupt and violent end.
I didn’t hesitate before plunging the stake through his chest with all my might, piercing the monster’s heart and ending his wretched life. Max fell screaming, his body burning on the soiled carpet until nothing was left but ashes.
The monster was dead…my mission accomplished. But everything had changed since the start of this bloody night.
The stake was still in my hand as I turned to face Valerie. She was one of them and had surely fed on human blood to survive all these years. Surely the best thing to do was end her misery. And yet, I could not. My Valerie was still in there somewhere. Why else had she saved me from Max? I looked into her eyes and was sure I could see my beloved.
“Tyler, please.” she pleaded, as tears tolled down her pale cheeks. “I never stopped loving you, not for a moment. You’ve sacrificed so much to get to me. But there’s only one way we can be together. Let me share my gift with you, and our love will last forever.”
I ignored all the death, blood, and horror in that moment – my focus entirely on Valerie as everything else faded away. I didn’t say a word, but she knew what my heart wanted. Valerie marched towards me and I dropped my stake. She embraced me and it felt so good. I didn’t scream when she bit my neck and drank my blood.
Zara, Professor Hannigan, and the Lee brothers all died that night. Maria and Billy escaped during the chaos, and I believe they took Cerberus with them. Honestly, I was glad to see them go. But Mildred, the Joneses and others are still trapped here, and more will come to restock our depleted numbers…fresh flies caught in our web.
Because Valerie and I rule the tower now, and our subjects come to us every night to offer their tribute.
You might wonder whether I feel guilty. After all, I came to slay a monster, and instead I became one. I do feel bad about Zara and Hannigan, but their foolish rebellion was doomed from the get-go.
I never wanted to become a bloodsucker, but this is the price I chose to be with Valerie. As for the feeding, it becomes routine after a while – a hunger that must be satisfied no matter what the moral cost.
Judge me if you will, be I’m with the woman who means the world to me, and ours is a love that will last forever.

Credit: Mark Lynch

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